Re: Gayatri Mahatmya
Meditation using the gAyatrI mantra: Hints of Brh.U.5.14
The gAyatrI mantra as given in RV 3.62.10 is the most popular in Vedic literature, which people often want to use in dhyAna--meditation.
• dhyAna is the investment of thought or intelligence (dhI). The anuvAka in bRhadAraNyaka upaniShad (5.14) gives some hints:
• Recalling the three pAdas--feet, of the gAyatrI, the first pAda is: tat savitur vareNyaM--That-one-SavitRu-adorable. Brh.U.5.14.1 states (Translations from the book published by Sri Ramakrishna Math]:
भूमिरन्तरिक्षं द्यौरित्यष्टावक्षराणि;
अष्टाक्शरं ह वा एकं गायत्र्यै पदम्,
एतदु हैवास्या एतत्;
स यावदेषु त्रिषु लोकेषु
तावद्ध जयति योऽस्या एतदेवं पदं वेद ॥ ५.१४.१ ॥
bhUmirantarikShaM dyaurityaShTAvakSharANi;
aShTAksharaM ha vA ekaM gAyatryai padam,
etadu haivAsyA etat;
sa yAvadeShu triShu lokeShu
tAvaddha jayati yo&syA etadevaM padaM veda || 5.14.1 ||
5.14.1: bhUmi--earth, antarikSha--sky/mid-world, and dhyaus--heaven together make eight syllables. The first foot of the gAyatrI (also) has verily eight syllables. Hence the first foot of the gAyatrI consists of these three worlds. He who knows the first foot of the gAyatrI as above wins whatever there is in these three worlds.
• As to why the triplet bhUH--earth, antarikSha--mid-world and dyauH--heaven, together have 8 syllables like the first pAda:
A part of the reason is in Brh.U.5.5.3. Imagine tat--That-one as the being in the solar orb, the spiritual Sun as we call it. Imagine bhUH as his head, bhuvar as the two arms, and svar as his feet.
Note that in the Brh.U. bhuvaH is the same as mid-world, and dyauH is the same as svar. Such an image can be sustained in mind for a very long time.
Brh.U.5.14.1 declares that this meditation wins all the three worlds because you are invoking simultaneously the spiritual Sun.
• The second pAda is: bhargo devasya dhImahi--we meditate on the splendour of the deity of SavitRu. Brh.U.5.14.2 states:
ऋचो यजूंषि सामानीत्यष्टावक्षराणि;
अष्टाक्षरं ह वा एकं गायत्र्यै पदम् ।
एतदु हैवास्या एतत्
स यावतीयं त्रयी विद्या
तावद्ध जयति
योऽस्या एतदेवं पदं वेद ॥ ५.१४.२ ॥
Rucho yajUMShi sAmAnItyaShTAvakSharANi;
aShTAkSharaM ha vA ekaM gAyatryai padam |
etadu haivAsyA etat
sa yAvatIyaM trayI vidyA
tAvaddha jayati
yo&syA etadevaM padaM veda || 5.14.2 ||
5.14.2: RuchaH, yajUMShi and sAmAni*--these together make eight syllables. The second foot of the gAyatrI (also) has verily eight syllables. Hence this foot of the gAyatrI consists of those three Vedas. He who knows this foot of the [i]gAyatrI as above wins as far as the knowledge represented by the three Vedas extends.
[*plural forms of the names of the three Vedas.]
• This mantra effectively states: 'meditate on the sound and meanings of the epithets of SavitRu given in the Rik mantras, Yajus mantras and SAma mantras'. We can pick up any epithet or a combination that we like.
• The third pAda states: dhiyo yo naH prachodayAt--May the deity SavitRu impel our thoughts towards the Supreme. We can imagine the thoughts coming out of the spiritual Sun having all light and power. Brh.U.5.14.2 states:
प्राणोऽपानो व्यान इत्यष्टावक्षराणि;
अष्टाक्शरं ह वा एकं गायत्र्यै पदम्;
एतदु हैवास्या एतत्;
स यावदिदं प्राणि
तावद्ध जयति
योऽस्या एतदेवं पदं वेद;
अथास्या एतदेव तुरीयं दर्शतं पदं परोरजा य एष तपति;
यद्वै चतुर्थं तत्तुरीयम्;
दर्शतं पदमिति
ददृश इव ह्येषः;
परोरजा इति
सर्वमु ह्येवैष रज उपर्युपरि तपति
एवं हैव श्रिया यशसा तपति
योऽस्या एतदेवं पदं वेद ॥ ५.१४.३ ॥
prANo&pAno vyAna ityaShTAvakSharANi;
aShTAksharaM ha vA ekaM gAyatryai padam;
etadu haivAsyA etat;
sa yAvadidaM prANi
tAvaddha jayati
yo&syA etadevaM padaM veda;
athAsyA etadeva turIyaM darshataM padaM parorajA ya eSha tapati;
yadvai chaturthaM tatturIyam;
darshataM padamiti
dadRusha iva hyeShaH;
parorajA iti
sarvamu hyevaiSha raja uparyupari tapati
evaM haiva shriyA yashasA tapati
yo&syA etadevaM padaM veda || 5.14.3 ||
5.14.3: prANa, apAna and vyAna*1--these together make eight syllables. The third foot of the gAyatrI (also) has verily eight syllables. Hence the third foot of the gAyatrI consists of these three forms of the vital force. He who knows the third foot of the gAyatrI as above wins all creatures that exist in the universe. Now its quaternary, (seemingly) visible, supermundane foot is indeed this--this (sun) that shines. That which is fourth is called turIya--quaternary. (Seemingly) 'visible foot' because the solar being is visualized, as it were, (by Yogins). 'Supermundane' because he alone verily shines on the entire universe*2 from on high*3. He who knows this foot of the gAyatrI as above shines just like that with magnificence and fame.
[Notes: 1. The word vyAna should be read three syllables to make up the number.
2. Called 'rajas' in the text, because it is the product of activity.
3. That is, as its lord.]
• This mantra effectively states, 'relate the third pAda to the three aspects of the life energy, prANa, apAna and vyAna'.
• Thoughts are intimately connected with the life energy. prANa refers to all positive qualities which takes us to higher and higher states, the all-round perfection. apAna is that which takes us down, i.e., apAna takes away all negative forces and ideas from us. vyAna means that which pervades around our body and all bodies. The UpaniShad declares that by this meditation with the third pAda, the person wins all creatures that exist in the universe.
*****
(to continue...)
रत्नाकरधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
ब्रह्मराजर्षिररत्नाढ्यां वन्दे भारतमातरम् ॥
To her whose feet are washed by the ocean, who wears the Himalayas as her crown, and is adorned with the gems of rishis and kings, to Mother India, do I bow down in respect.
--viShNu purANam
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